AUSTIN (AP) - One of the top legislative priorities for the chambers of commerce for some of Texas' largest cities is funding a $188 million annual environmental program, but the group does not have any suggestions on how to pay for it.

The program is designed to improve air quality in Texas.

Without funding for it, the Environmental Protection Agency will not approve plans to clean the air over the Dallas and Houston regions and the state will face losing hundreds of millions in federal highway money. Also, the EPA could come in and write its own plan on how to clean up the areas.

"Without clean air, Texans may expect outcomes that negatively affect a gambit of quality of life issues from health and wellness to clearly economic development," said Deborah Cannon, chairwoman of the Greater Houston Partnership.

Other priorities for the Metro 8 Chambers of Commerce include education, job training and transportation programs.

The Metro 8 is a coalition of the state's eight largest chambers from Arlington, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

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GETTING TO WORK

The current quiet time at the Legislature won't last too much longer.

Two weeks after lawmakers were sworn into office, the Senate holds its first Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday.

House Speaker Tom Craddick is expected to appoint House committees on Thursday. That's when "the whole bloody process can begin," said Craddick spokesman Bob Richter.

Texas legislative sessions traditionally start slow. The body meets in regular session only once every two years. The first few weeks are usually more pomp and circumstance than substance.

Gov. Rick Perry last week declared auto, homeowners' and medical malpractice insurance "emergency" issues for lawmakers. The declaration allows the Legislature to pass bills on those subjects within the first 60 days of the session.

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CRADDICK COMMITTEES

House Speaker Tom Craddick made some big promises while speaking to the Texas Association of Business.

The House will pass bills reforming homeowners insurance and medical malpractice lawsuit abuse -- guaranteed, Craddick said.

The House also will complete the budget despite a multibillion-dollar shortfall, consider revamping economic development laws and look at giving public universities the power to set their own tuition, Craddick said.

Craddick also revealed plans to establish a special committee to study skyrocketing health care costs in state government and said he hopes to set up a panel to study changes to ethics rules.

The Republican promised prominent committee assignments to legislators from both political parties, saying, "We are going to spread the leadership across the House and include everybody."

He said to expect "an almost completely new Appropriations Committee," saying the powerful budget-writing panel would include young members as lawmakers deal with a budget shortfall of at least $9.9 billion.

The speaker also said the House would likely repeal the state's school finance system known as Robin Hood. But Craddick said that may happen in a special session.

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UIL OVERHAUL

Rep. Joe Nixon, R-Houston, filed a bill that would overhaul the University Interscholastic League, giving the state more oversight of the agency.

The measure also would open up interscholastic competition to private schools in Texas.

The legislation proposes to abolish the UIL, replacing it with the Texas Schoolchildren's Academic and Athletic Commission, to be made up of state-appointed members.

Nixon said the commission would be self-funded, requiring no additional money from the state.

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CREMATION BILL

Bills filed by Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, and Rep. Kenny Marchant, R-Carrollton, would impose tougher state regulations on the cremation business in Texas.

The lawmakers want to require licensing of all crematories, training and certification of all crematory operators, tracking and verification of the identity of human remains through the cremation process and state inspection of all cremation facilities.

Service Corporation International of Houston, a large operator of crematoria nationally, was quick to announce its backing of the proposed legislation. Company officials said the measure would protect consumers.

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CONGRATULATING CONRADT

The Senate passed a resolution honoring the University of Texas' Jody Conradt, only the second women's basketball coach to reach 800 career victories. Conradt reached the milestone Jan. 22 with a win over rival Texas Tech. Ironically, she was honored on "Lubbock Day" in the Senate.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"As soon as I get done with committees, I'm going to ask my wife for a date because I haven't seen her in two weeks." -- House Speaker Tom Craddick, talking about the work that goes into making House committee assignments.